There are many ways to ease the stressful times experienced when raising a family, but one of the most important ways to manage a household is the introduction of structure.

Key Points:

  • Providing structure in the home keeps kids safe and parents sane. Children growing up in a structured home are more well-adjusted to society’s rules and the variety of limits that are thrown into the journey of living.
  • Structure requires a plan. What structure means varies from family-to-family, but the core principles of structure apply to all families. Proverbs 13:24
  • God created with structure in mind. If he emphasizes structure, so should we.
Talk About It
  1. What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
  2. Share your observations of a family you know who are free-spirited and unstructured. What are some positives you see in their family? What are some negatives?
  3. Describe your household currently as far as it pertains to structure. What structure exists and how does it work?
  4. Read Proverbs 13:24. How does this proverb apply to developing and maintaining structure in the home?
  5. How can structure actually create more freedom for parents? What about for kids?
  6. Read Romans 7:7. What structures has God put in place to keep us safe? How can we apply this to our children and family lives?
  7. How can a set of rules in the home help stifle the ambiguity that breeds stress?
  8. Write a personal action step based on this conversation.